New guinea impatiens plant named ‘Dongimeguinor’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimeguinor’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and full appearance; dark green-colored leaves with dark red-colored lower surfaces; freely and early flowering habit; medium-sized single-type dark orange-colored flowers with pink and dark red-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIMEGUINOR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongimeguinor’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, California. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching, early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2017 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN13-002477-003, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN15-713729-004, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, California in April, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, California since June, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongimeguinor’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongimeguinor’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and full appearance.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves with dark red-colored lower         surfaces.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Medium-sized single-type dark orange-colored flowers with         pink and dark red-colored centers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as vigorous as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are dark orange color         with pink and dark red-colored centers whereas flowers of plants         of the female parent selection are hot pink in color with darker         pink-colored centers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than and not as         compact as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are dark orange color         with pink and dark red-colored centers whereas flowers of plants         of the male parent selection are magenta in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Timor’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,144. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Timor’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Timor’.     -   2. Lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are dark         red in color whereas lower leaf surfaces of plants of ‘Timor’         are green in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Timor’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are dark orange color         with pink and dark red-colored centers whereas flowers of plants         of ‘Timor’ are bright orange in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagwis’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,782. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagwis’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more upright and more         vigorous than plants of ‘Duemagwis’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Duemagwis’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are dark orange color         with pink and dark red-colored centers whereas flowers of plants         of ‘Duemagwis’ are light red in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongimeguinor’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Dongimeguinor’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, California and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 25 C, night temperatures averaged 18 C and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 4,500 lux. Plants were 16 weeks old when the photographs were taken and 14 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongimeguinor’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN13-002477-003, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN15-713729-004, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at temperatures about 27 C and night temperatures             about 20 C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27 C and             night temperatures about 20 C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle in overall             shape; freely branching habit with lateral branches             potentially developing at every node; dense and full             appearance; vigorous growth habit and moderate to rapid             growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 30 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 44 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 26 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 5 cm to 8 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong; flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 183A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically alternate or in whorls; simple.         -   Length.—About 9 cm to 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 3 cm to 3.75 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A slightly             tinged with close to 183A; midvein, close to 183A, and             lateral venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 183A; midvein, close to 183A;             lateral venation, darker than 183A.         -   Petiole length.—About 2.25 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 183A and             183B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single-type, medium-sized             rounded axillary flowers with ruffled margins; freely             flowering habit, typically about six to eight flower buds             and open flowers per lateral branch; flowers positioned             above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers typically face             mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about eleven weeks after planting.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy. Color: Close to 33A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm by 5.25 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl. Length, banner petals: About 2.6 cm. Length,             lateral petals: About 2.25 cm. Length, lower petals: About             2.1 cm. Width, banner petal: About 3.75 cm. Width, lateral             petals: About 3 cm. Width, lower petals: About 2.5 cm.             Shape, all petals: Spatulate to broadly obcordate. Apex, all             petals: Emarginate with occasional and random indentations.             Base, all petals: Cuneate to attenuate. Margin, all petals:             Mostly entire with occasional and random indentations;             undulate and ruffled appearance. Texture and luster, all             petals, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly             glossy; iridescent. Texture and luster, all petals, lower             surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, all             petals: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close             to 33A; towards the center, tinged with 52C and at the             center, close to 53A; venation, similar to lamina colors;             colors do not change with subsequent development. When             opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 33A;             midvein, banner petal, close to 144A; midvein, lateral and             lower petals, close to 33A; colors do not change with             subsequent development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             one modified into an elongated spur. Lateral sepal length:             About 6 mm. Lateral sepal width: About 3.5 mm. Spur sepal             length: About 1.75 cm. Spur sepal width: About 1 cm. Sepal             shape: Deltoid. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal base: Truncate.             Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Sepal             color, upper and lower surfaces: Translucent, close to 157A;             towards the base, tinged with close to 60A. Spur length:             About 3.25 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 3 mm; at             apex, less than 1 mm. Spur shape: Acicular. Spur texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Spur color:             Close to 59A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.75 mm.             Angle: About 45 degrees from stem axis. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy. Color: Close to 144A variably overlain with close to             59A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Anther size: About 1 mm by 0.5 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 2.5 mm. Stigma shape: Crested. Stigma             color: Close to 144A. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary             color: Close to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5 C to about 40 C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimeguinor’ as illustrated and described. 